CLARIFICATION On “Protest” at New VFW Post, Friday, Jan.28

This is a clarification on our earlier headline and article that spoke of “a protest rally” in front of the new location of the local VFW Post on Friday, January 28th. The event is more likely to be local residents and business owners upset attending a public meeting in protest of the VFW taking over the old location of Ranchos Restaurant. And that is at the intersection of Point Loma Avenue and Ebers Street.

An OB Rag citizen blogger heard about the event from neighbors. There is supposed to be a flier urgently local residents to attend some event and oppose the VFW move into the former restaurant/ market – but neither our local blogger or we have yet to see one. Locals are alleged to be “up in arms” about the new VFW site.

Another OB Rag journalist has confirmed that there will be a public meeting at the new VFW location in order for locals to voice their concerns. This is the event at 5 pm, Friday, Jan. 28th.

There will be updates on the public meeting and the circumstances surrounding the VFW’s motivation for calling the meeting. It is reported that there will be representatives of San Diego area politicians attending, as well as a representative of the SDPD – who reportedlywill respond to allegations that there had been problems involving alcohol or the conduct of veterans at the former VFW Post location.

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Clarification on the clarification: The VFW has offered to hold the meeting at the new location to allow the local residents and business owners to air their concerns. I’ll have a full article on the situation first thing in the morning.

That building on Point Loma has been vacant for years. Hopefully the VFW is renovating that building and it will be an improvement to that street which appears to have no life. I am going to predict that cigarette smoking outside will become an issue. Good luck to the vets…I am sure you will be good neighbors. Thank you for your service to our country.

I am the attorney currently representing this VFW Post and I would like to make a few points.

First, this is not a bar, it is a very exclusive private club that does not serve alcohol to the general public. Its not enough to be a veteran, you have to have fought in a foreign war to become a member of the VFW, hence the name “Veterans of Foreign Wars.” I want to repeat this point because it is very important: this is not a bar open to the general public.

Second, VFW has a spotless, squeaky-clean track record regarding their liquor license. They went 27 years on Newport Avenue without a blemish. No violations, conditions, fines or restrictions were ever imposed by ABC over the last 27 years. These are model tenants that were unfairly associated with the panhandlers hanging out in the alley behind the supermarket.

Third, the VFW is a charitable, non-profit organization that donates turkeys at Thanksgiving and presents at Christmas time to families in need, among other things.

Furthermore, the location VFW plans to occupy has been vacant for the last five years. There were holes in the roof from homeless people sleeping on it. How does that help property values? VFW is going to come in, renovate the building, and actually support this wonderful community.

These are not simply veterans, they are veterans of foreign wars who fought for our freedoms, including the freedom to protest a business from relocating into your neighborhood. I hope this irony is not lost on anyone, especially the protesters. I hope to see everyone at the public meeting at 5 p.m.

Make no mistake, the opposition to relocating the VFW Post to this quiet residential neighborhood has nothing to do with being pro or against veterans and their causes!! I am the proud grand-daughter, daughter, sister, and aunt to military veterans and am very supportive of veterans causes. The opposition to this location is that it is 1/2 block from two elementary schools. There are no other bars or businesses that stay open to 2:00am within at least 15 blocks of this location!!
I cannot believe that the OB Planning Board thought that locating a bar that opens at 6:00am and closes at 2:00am within 1/2 block of two elementary schools is an acceptable/rationale zoning practice. There is also not enough parking spaces for the VFW to hold events at this location. Relocating this type of business to this location does not comport with the quality and feel of the neighborhood itself.
There are a number of business districts in the area that would be a more appropriate location than the one in question!!!

Say what you will, the former VFW was rowdy and full of drunks. I have lived in ob all my life and its always been that way. To cite their “perfect” record is a little bit of a stretch as most know and understand they get a special pass from us and the police. Sure those guys are heros and deserve more than just a place to enjoy a drink, but not at that location. There are 2 schools in shouting distance, children everywhere and a very mellow and quiet community. I cannot imagine who would think that is a good place for a semiprivate all day bar.

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